The Latin American zinc association (Latiza)

I didn't even realize this organization existed until I stumbled upon a interesting "in depth" piece that BNAmerica's did on it.

The Latin American Zinc Association (Latiza) is a regional branch of the International Zinc Association, which comprises both zinc producers, miners and refiners. Latin America, if you did not know produces roughly 23% of the global output of zinc, a very commonly used base metal.

If you're interested in learning more about Latiza and can read Spanish you should definitely check out their home page at:

http://www.latiza.com/primero.html

China and North Korea, still buddies after all the years...

Read a interesting article today on Xinhua News Agency about a new program recently initiated between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), aka North Korea.

It is called "China-DPRK Friendship Year." Anyone interested in signing up? The celebratory year coincides with the 60 year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Premier Wen Jiabao, who is more frequently seen on this website shaking hands with leaders in Latin America, explained the incredible importance of China's relationship with North Korea. He also emphasized China has not forgotten that North Korea was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with China.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his counterpart of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Yong Il

The point... The Chinese don't easily forget, even if you grow into a country that is the demigod of the international community and really offers little economic benefit of continuing to support.

So listen world leaders! Be nice to China, and just maybe you too can party for one full year with China.

South-South Cooperation -- Chile and Pakistan

Eni has signed a Protocol for Cooperation with the Government of Pakistan aimed at developing new, important projects in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors in the country.

The agreement further strengthens relationships between Eni and Pakistan, as it makes available exclusively to Pakistan state oil companies the capabilities, the know how and the innovative technologies developed by Eni in the oil sector, especially in terms of efficiency in exploiting hydrocarbon fields. The agreement also enables Eni to become a strategic partner in developing the oil & gas sector in Pakistan and to enter fields which are so far managed by state-run oil companies.

Click here to access this article from Rigzone

ENERSIS (ENI) 2 year

Kokkie Kooyman on emerging markets

Kokkie Kooyman from SIM Global gives his reasons why emerging market stocks are good value

Investment in Microfinance Industry remains robust

OVER 80 PERCENT OF INVESTORS HAVE NOT REDUCED THEIR MICROFINANCE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO DUE TO THE GLOBAL RECESSION

Microfinance Insights Survey Reveals Views of 160 Microfinance Stakeholders; Latest issue features KIVA, Citi India, Kashf-Pakistan, Unitus, Grameen, Koota
MUMBAI, India, March 13, 2009 - As the recession spreads to developing countries around the world, and the effects of the crisis set in, Microfinance Insights explores how the microfinance sector is coping with the global recession. In the March/April 2009 issue, Global Crisis & Microfinance, sector stakeholders, from institutional investors to microfinance institutions and their clients, reveal how they have been affected by the liquidity crisis and speculate on when it will end.

Microfinance clients, many of whom are below the poverty line, have felt the squeeze with rising food and energy prices, decreases in remittances and less availability of loans. Many microfinance institutions (MFIs), particularly those not permitted to mobilize deposits, have struggled to maintain the liquidity to continue loan cycles without interruption. As the situation worsens, equity investors continue to show interest in investing in large microfinance institutions, confident that many established MFIs will weather the crisis.

Click here to read more about this from einnews

South-South Cooperation Triangle -- Colombia, Peru & Brazil

BOGOTA -(Dow Jones)- Colombian state-controlled oil company Ecopetrol SA ( ECOPETROL.BO) said Tuesday it has agreed to buy stakes in two oil blocks in Peru from Brazilian oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR).

In a statement, Ecopetrol said it bought 50% of a block in the eastern Peruvian Amazon jungle and 25% in a second one, located in the country's southeastern jungle.

Both companies will search for oil and gas in the two areas together. The acquisitions need to be approved by Peruvian authorities, Ecopetrol said.

Click here to read more from CNN Money ...

I know weird right??? CNN Money ran this story. Well I guess it was from Dow Jones originally hehe.

India -- Tata Motors a cool emerging company

New Delhi/Mumbai: The social networking era has become a great aid for the Tata Motors' Nano sale buzz to flourish in the online world. The Nano campaign, prior to its release, has been intensified through its extension to networking sites like Facebook and Orkutmaking the 'world's cheapest car' known to a larger mass.

The company targeted the online audience through its own portal, www.tatanano.com, but the networking sites triggered a gushy response with people from all over the world asking for a similar car in their land too, reports Mint. Darlene in Facebook said, "Please bring this car to Toronto, Canada!!!" while Luis recommends the manufacturer to make the car in Columbia. "You guys should make the Nano in Colombia since it would be a good place to produce them; we are in the middle of the American continent so it can be easily transported anywhere from Canada to Argentina at a lower cost," Luis said.

Click here to read more about this cool story.

Also... if you happen to be interested in Tata Motors (TTM), a company which happens to making a car which will cost between $2500-$3000 here's a bit from Yahoo Finance and how the ADR listed in the states has been performing.




TATA MOTORS LIMITED manufactures commercial and passenger vehicles primarily in India. It offers passenger cars; multi-utility vehicles; and light, medium, and heavy commercial vehicles, including mini-truck, light two-tonne truck, heavy dumpers, ... click here for more from Yahoo Finance

Might be a decent buying time for a company with a very attractive Div & Yield of 0.35 (8.90%).

Canada and Colombia -- Ecopetrol to purchase Enbridge stake in Ocensa pipeline

Colombia's state oil company Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) will purchase a 24.7% stake held by Canada's Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) in the Ocensa pipeline in Colombia for US$418mn.

Ecopetrol's stake in the pipeline will increase to 60% as a result of the transaction, Ecopetrol said in a statement.



The transaction will strengthen Ecopetrol's position in the oil transport industry and allow it to increase output in the Eastern Plains region of Colombia.

BNAmericas

South-South Cooperation -- Cuba and Panama Sign Trade Pact

HAVANA – Panama and Cuba signed a trade pact here Monday that will allow an increase in the trade of goods and services between the two countries.


Official Cuban sources told Efe that the accord was signed by Panamanian Foreign Minister Samuel Lewis and one of Cuba’s vice presidents, Ricardo Cabrisas.


Panama’s deputy minister of foreign trade, Severo Souza, who is accompanying Lewis on his visit to Cuba, described the agreement as a positive step in the constant strengthening of bilateral ties.

Click here to access the full story

Foggy China - Dense fog envelopes buildings in Taizhou

Photos taken on March 17, 2009 shows buildings enveloped in the heavy fog in Taizhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.(Xinhua/Wang Tianrong)

Venezuela’s Chávez Orders Military to Take Over Two Ports - Latin American Herald

In a move seemingly designed to prevent the opposition from being able to use any of the gains they made in November's elections, Chavez ordered that major ports administered by Opposition governors be taken into his control.

Click here to access this article from the Latin American Herald

Jimmy Rogers -- China stocks, commodity prices and civil unrest says Rogers

"Some day when you come here and everyone says the world has come to an end. That'll be the time to buy."

~ Jim Rogers.

ROGERS HOLDINGS' JIM ROGERS ON BTV ASIA AND LIVE

March 17 -- Jim Rogers, chairman of Singapore-based Rogers Holdings, talks with Television about the outlook for China stocks, commodity prices and the U.S. banking industry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

U.S. Bailouts Add to Risk of Depression, Rogers Says (Update2)
By Chua Kong Ho and Bernard Lo


March 17 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. risks sending the world into a depression as its bailouts of failed companies rob healthy businesses of capital, investor Jim Rogers said.

“The U.S. is taking assets from competent people and giving them to incompetent people,” said Rogers, chairman of Singapore-based Rogers Holdings and the author of books including “Investment Biker” and “Adventure Capitalist.” “That’s bad economics.”

The U.S. government should let American International Group Inc., whose fourth-quarter loss was the worst in corporate history, go bankrupt, Rogers added in a Bloomberg Television interview today. Congress approved a $700 billion bank bailout package in October, and President Barack Obama’s administration has suggested it may need an additional $750 billion.

Click here to access this full article from Bloomberg

Marc Faber says he grows "good stuff," which makes you very happy ... HAHA

One of my favorite investment guru's, made a appearance on Asia Confidential, hosted by one of my favorite live commentator's from Bloomberg's Asia Crew, Bernie Lo.

Basically echoing a long term trend, described by other investors around the world. Faber explains in a casual manner how power is slowly shifts towards those who produce actual consumables like food, versus derivatives traders.

Marc Faber asked about investing in farmland said that they have a farmland in New Zealand and there they don't grow hashish but in northern Thailand "they" (people?) grow good stuff.